Music & Memory

Beloved Music Can Awaken Joy Lost to Dementia

Music and Memory: One Tune at a Time

In my professional career I started as a nurse and then became a lawyer. Even though those may seem like very different professions, they both are positions of helping and advocating for others. I have always been driven by a desire to help people who are struggling, either with their health or with getting justice.

Professionally, of course, I represent clients in legal matters. But I want to do more. So I’ve teamed with Music & Memory, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing joy into the lives of people who have dementia and cognitive impairments like Alzheimer’s. It’s an incredible organization bringing needed joy into seniors’ lives one tune at a time!

You might have seen the April 2012 documentary about this work, called Alive Inside: The Story of Music and Memory. One of the most powerful moments was a video clip of Henry, a withdrawn and mostly nonverbal patient who was reawakened by listening to his Cab Calloway favorites.

The Goal

Our law firm is running an ongoing drive and fundraiser to donate iPods and songs to certified Music & Memory care facilities whose staff are trained to create personalized music programs for residents.

You can help by:

Donating a gently used iPod (iPod Shuffles preferred for their ease of use)

Donating $49 to purchase a new iPod Shuffle

Purchasing an iPod through Apple to donate directly to Music & Memory by emailing [email protected] (you’ll save 7 percent this way)

Donating an iTunes gift card to purchase songs, available starting at $15